OT- 02 Dodge ram 1500...heater core ...

Anybody ever change a heater core on a 2002 dodge ram 1500 ? can it be done without taking it to the dealer ? Thanks-mike ( by the way I use this around the farm.)

I can send you the online page from the repair guide if you want. Autozone has them for most vehicles as long as you open a free online account with them. I copied it if you want me to send it to you.

What's wrong with it? Might just be a switch which I found out on a Jeep. Shop wanted $600 to replace the core.

I'm pretty sure on that truck you will need to pull the whole dash out. It bills out at around 8 hours for someone with experience. Do an internet search and see what is involved before you start on it.

I've also read that the factory Dodge replacement core is the best one made.

Yes if you can send it, my email is open- thanks-mike

The heater core went out on my 98 Dodge and the dash did have to come out with the steering column laying on the seat and the whole works. I got lazy and paid an independent mechanic to do it. Jim

Mike, it can be done but is a huge PITA. Suggest visiting Dodge diesel truck forum, search for heater core replacement, very good set of instructions. One HUGE problem with the 98-02 trucks is the dash gets brittle/cracks and will self destruct. Mine was PERFECT until I LOOSENED the first bolt at the base of the windshield for heater replacement-THE DASH VIRTUALLY EXPLODED and now fits in a shoe box. Now have an otherwise very good condition 116k mile '00 truck that is unuseable. I bought it new, was worth ~$5k, now scrap/parts.
Dealer parts to fix will be ~$1k, no after market parts available. No salvage parts available. Dodge no help. Going to take a $$$ beating no matter what I do. In retrospect, would have been better off to bypass heater and live with lesser problem. GOOD LUCK!!

Big job ,not fun . Drop steering column. Heater box has to come out . Dash has to come out for that to happen . Discharge a/c . I run ratchet strap over top of cab to hold dash assembly up out of the way . Might wanna look into Evaporator core while you are in there . OEM core is the only way I do these . $1000-1500 job depending A/c core or not . Good luck .

hey mine was stopped up had a guy back flush it he said to put the pink antifreeze in it what come from factory was bad I had to put a new rad in mine thehn heater didn't work till he did that like sand came out

Jim

Thanks, I Think I'll try that-mike

Thanks ,I hear you -mike

I also thought of that-by pass the heater- mike

Napa has new dash for about 130 bucks.

You mean 98-01 1500, 98-02 2500/3500. The 1500 got the new body style a year before the 25/3500/

Did mine a couple of years ago and it wasn't too bad. You don't have to remove the heater box or discharge the AC to do it. You do have to drop the steering column down on the front seat but leave it hooked on. Now you have to remove the upper dash and then you have to unbolt the lower dash and pull it back away from the firewall and let it rest on the front seat. Lots of bolts and defenitely not fun but you can do it in an hour or two. Now you have a heater core staring at you that wont lift out because the copper lines go all the way through the firewall. I cut them off the heater core with a dremel and lifted the heater core out. I was just going to put 4 hose clamps on and splice the new heater core to the old ends but when I got the new Auto zone aluminum heater core it actually had removeable swivel type with an O ring hose ends. All I did was uncrimp the ends holding the tubes on the heater core and threaded them through the fire wall and plugged them back into the heater core and recrimped the swivel ends back on. It was really only about a half hour job to do that and there was no way I was dropping my AC to change it. I also added a couple of zip ties to the ends to make sure they never popped out under the dash. Also pressure tested it before I put the truck back together. Cost me about $45 bucks and a few hours labor and now I have crystal clear windows, no smell, and a really warm cab. You can do it easily. Here are the pics of mine. If you run into a snag just ask.